Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Portmarnock Cost of Living Comparison Between Dublin and Portmarnock

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,771 per month in Dublin vs $2,852 in Portmarnock, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,399 per month in Dublin vs $4,216 in Portmarnock, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,026 per month in Dublin vs $5,580 in Portmarnock, rent included.

Dublin costs about 32% more than Portmarnock, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dublin and Portmarnock sit above the global median – Dublin by 176%, Portmarnock by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.23 €21.98

$25.21 €21.96

0.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$104 €90.2

$114 €99.4

-9.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.59 €11.84

$13.65 €11.89

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$5.17 €4.50

$5.10 €4.45

1.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 €2.64

$3.06 €2.67

-0.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 €1.92

$2.16 €1.89

1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 €7.18

$7.89 €6.88

4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 €6.41

$7.01 €6.11

4.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 €1.48

$1.62 €1.41

4.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 €2.14

$2.37 €2.06

3.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 €1.74

$2.33 €2.03

-14.16%

Eggs

$5.13 €4.47

$4.30 €3.75

19.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 €8.94

$11.57 €10.08

-11.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 €11.37

$11.24 €9.80

16.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 €14.27

$16.55 €14.42

-1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 €2.69

$2.94 €2.56

5.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.41 €2.10

$2.33 €2.03

3.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 €2.58

$2.90 €2.53

2.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 €4.73

$4.23 €3.69

28.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 €1.72

$2.01 €1.75

-1.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 €1.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 €1.21

$1.38 €1.20

0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 €1.76

$2.06 €1.80

-1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.30 €19.43

$22.20 €19.34

0.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 €12.19

$14.08 €12.27

-0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 €3.03

$4.24 €3.69

-18.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$4.49 €3.92

-23.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

$2.49 €2.17

-8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$112 €97.2

$126 €110

-11.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 €4.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 €1.32

$1.46 €1.27

4.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.26 €33.33

$39.57 €34.47

-3.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 €1.83

$2.11 €1.83

-0.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.4K €35.2K

$40.3K €35.1K

0.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €34.3K

$38.1K €33.2K

3.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$286 €250

$246 €214

16.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.81 €16.39

$19.48 €16.97

-3.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.3 €48.16

$51.7 €45.04

6.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.0 €59.2

$66.0 €57.5

2.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.20 €17.59

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 €13.66

$15.35 €13.38

2.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,337 €1,165

$1,052 €916

27.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K €12.9K

$5,585 €4,866

165.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$111 €96.4

$104 €90.9

6.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 €45.14

$50.4 €43.92

2.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 €99.8

$114 €99.2

0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 €113

$118 €103

9.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,534 €2,208

$1,429 €1,245

77.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,242 €1,953

$1,348 €1,175

66.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,648 €4,050

$2,303 €2,006

101.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,636 €3,168

$2,483 €2,163

46.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,059 €7,892

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,765 €5,022

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 €3,439

$4,901 €4,270

-19.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

3.68

2.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dublin: September 12, 2026

Last update for Portmarnock: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,534 in Dublin versus $1,429 in Portmarnock. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Portmarnock, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Dublin versus $114 in Portmarnock. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Dublin vs $366 in Portmarnock – so Portmarnock wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Dublin vs Portmarnock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,771 in Dublin, $2,852 in Portmarnock – roughly 32% apart. Dublin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,657 per month in Dublin and $4,277 in Portmarnock. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portmarnock, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Dublin and $114 in Portmarnock. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,771 in Dublin and $2,852 in Portmarnock. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,771 in Dublin and $2,852 in Portmarnock. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Dublin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,852 in Portmarnock to $3,771 in Dublin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Portmarnock. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dublin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.